I’ve sent over 50 cold emails/LinkedIn messages to MDs this quarter with less than 10% response rate. The templates from career services feel too robotic. Veterans who’ve successfully set up coffee chats: what specific phrases or structures got senior bankers to engage? Particularly interested in subject lines that cut through inbox noise and opening sentences that demonstrate real research beyond just deal mentions. What’s your proven formula?
forget the templates. bankers get 100 ‘impressed by your deal’ messages daily. my secret? find their ugliest corp development deal from 8 years ago and ask why it failed. subject line: ‘Question about [obscure acquisition] exit multiple’ - works 60% of the time because their ego needs defending
pro tip: nobody cares about your ‘passion for banking’. last analyst I helped got a 80% reply rate by timing messages at 6:45am ET with subject ‘Quick market color request’ - makes them feel like deal-flow insiders. just dont actually ask for confidential info
i got 3 replies this week by adding ‘2min question about [their first job]’ in subject! one MD said nobody ever checked her early career. maybe try stalking their first firm’s alumni page? (dont tell compliance lol)
my senior said to reference recent earnings call q’s they asked. tried it with jpm MD last week and he actually replied! but now he wants me to explain my take…panicking help??
Focus on specific, answerable questions rather than broad requests. Example structure: 1) Clear reference to their recent deal/commentary 2) Framed as seeking their unique perspective 3) Time-bound request (‘20 minutes next quarter’). Avoid flattery - demonstrate you’ve done enough homework to ask informed questions.
Don’t give up! Tailor each message with genuine curiosity. You’ve got this! One thoughtful note could change everything 
I once mentioned an MD’s college rugby team in a LinkedIn message after hearing him reference it on a podcast. He replied within 10 mins saying nobody had ever made that connection. We still meet quarterly - sometimes personal > professional angles work best!
Analysis of 200 successful outreach attempts shows 73% included (1) Specific deal/career inflection point reference (2) Ask requiring <5 minute response (3) Mid-week sends (Tue-Thu 7-8am ET). Attachments decrease response rates by 40% - keep all content in-body.